There can be no doubt that technology has shaped the way in which people perceive and engage in social interactions. Recent developments in information and communication technologies (ICT) made the role of social media in people’s lives to be questioned (Bailey 67). Although social media is often blamed for the deterioration of communication skills in general audiences, its effects need to be recognized as more complex and requiring a thorough understanding to minimize the adverse effects.
The effects of social media on people’s ability and willingness to engage in online interactions have been viewed mainly as negative despite the presence of apparent benefits, such as the removal of barriers to communication. Specifically, the development of digital tools, specifically, (ICT), led to the transfer of a significant portion of communication into the digital realm (Özkent 1). As a result, face-to-face interactions have been abandoned.
Indeed, the transfer to the digital context and a drop in face-to-face conversations can be seen as a negative effect. However, the observed change, while being quite troubling, should not be regarded as the direct outcome of social media’s properties (Quinn 2). Instead, it needs to be recognized as the problem in people’s perception of social media.
Indeed, the observed problem is the effect of the lack of awareness among general audiences. The specified phenomenon suggests that further education concerning IT and ICT tools and their effects is needed. Particularly, one should view social media as a supporting tool in enhancing communication (Eriksson 543). As a result, a positive change can be expected in the use and effects of social media.
Despite the undeniable fact of social media having produced a certain negative effect on the quality and extent of interpersonal interactions, it needs to be seen as a tool for managing communication and, therefore, treated as such. By utilizing social media as a part of one’s social life and not the entirety of it, one will establish tighter control over it and, therefore, reduce the adverse effects. Overall, the impact of social media can be considered neutral, yet the response to it should be examined closer and controlled better.
Works Cited
Bailey, Amanda. “Social Media: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” Plastic Surgical Nursing, vol. 39, no. 3, 2019, pp. 66–67., doi:10.1097/psn.0000000000000271.
Eriksson, Mats. “Lessons for Crisis Communication on Social Media: A Systematic Review of What Research Tells the Practice.”International Journal of Strategic Communication, vol. 12, no. 5, 2018, pp. 526-551.
Özkent, Yasemin. “Social Media Usage to Share Information in Communication Journals: An Analysis of Social Media Activity and Article Citations.” PLOS ONE, vol. 17, no. 2, 2022, pp. 1-10., doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0263725.
Quinn, Kelly. “Cognitive Effects of Social Media Use: A Case of Older Adults.” Social Media + Society, vol. 4, no. 3, 2018, pp. 1-5., doi:10.1177/2056305118787203.